Fact-Check: The Armenian Report Exposes False Claims of $400,000 Tucker Carlson Payout in Karapetyan–Carlson Interview

EXCLUSIVE: Conflicting reports and unverified claims have circulated across Armenian media in recent days regarding Narek Karapetyan’s upcoming appearance on “The Tucker Carlson Show.” After speaking directly with a source familiar with the situation, The Armenian Report has confirmed several key details and debunked multiple inaccuracies spreading online.

No—Tucker Carlson Was Not Paid $400,000

Several pro-government outlets have reported that Narek Karapetyan, nephew of jailed Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, allegedly paid $400,000 to secure an interview on Tucker Carlson’s program.

The Armenian Report has confirmed with a source close to the production that Tucker Carlson’s team did not receive any payment from Karapetyan or his representatives.

The claim circulating in Armenian media is false.

Rumors of a $1 Million Lobbying Campaign Remain Unverified

Other reports allege that the Karapetyan family hired a lobbying firm for $1 million to place an article about Samvel Karapetyan in the Financial Times, with the goal of securing the Tucker Carlson interview.

While The Armenian Report could not independently verify whether a lobbying organization was hired, such assistance is common in high-profile legal and political cases involving international media outreach.

What is confirmed:

• No payment was made to Tucker Carlson or his team.

• Lobbying activity remains unconfirmed but is plausible.

New Detail: Narek Karapetyan Will Not Appear Alone

In contrast to rumors suggesting a solo interview, The Armenian Report has confirmed that international attorney Robert “Bob” Amsterdam will join Narek Karapetyan on the program.

Amsterdam represents the jailed billionaire Samvel Karapetyan and is well known for handling politically sensitive global cases. His past appearances on Tucker Carlson have focused on:

• Political prosecutions in Russia

• Authoritarian misuse of courts

• International corruption

• Human rights violations

• Interpol abuse

Amsterdam’s inclusion indicates that the interview will focus heavily on legal and political issues surrounding Samvel Karapetyan’s arrest.

Why Tucker Carlson Is Covering the Story

Carlson’s interest stems from what he sees as the political targeting of a Christian Armenian businessman who openly criticized the Pashinyan government’s treatment of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In a video released before his arrest, Samvel Karapetyan condemned what he called an attack on the Church:

“A small group of people who have forgotten the thousand-year history of Armenia and the church are attacking the religious institution.”

He added:

“I have always stood with the Armenian Church and the Armenian people.”

Carlson has repeatedly used his platform to highlight the persecution of Christians globally and often references Armenia’s tragic history—from the 1915 Genocide to the forced displacement of Christian Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023.

Separating Facts From Fiction

What The Armenian Report has confirmed:

✅ No payment was made to Tucker Carlson

✅ Narek Karapetyan will appear alongside attorney Bob Amsterdam

✅ Tucker Carlson’s interest is driven by the Christian-persecution angle

✅ The interview is expected to air in the coming days

What remains unverified:

⚠️ Whether a lobbying firm was hired for global media outreach

⚠️ Whether any outreach efforts involved the Financial Times

What is false:

❌ Claims of a $400,000 payment to secure the interview

What Happens Next

Samvel Karapetyan remains jailed in Yerevan as his legal team elevates the case to international attention. The Karapetyan family continues to seek avenues to challenge what they describe as a politically motivated arrest and an attack on the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The Armenian Report will publish a follow-up article once the Tucker Carlson interview is released.

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